In Bangladesh, a dispute over the site of a new airport turns violent

Villagers armed with sticks clash with the police in Munshiganj district, 12 miles south of Dhaka, Bangladesh on Jan. 31 Police fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse angry villagers who set fire to a police camp during protests against a government plan to acquire their land for a new airport, witnesses said.

Andrew Biraj / Reuters

A policeman strikes a villager after he was detained during the clash in Munshiganj district.

Andrew Biraj / Reuters

Policemen attend to a wounded comrade during the clash with villagers in Munshiganj district.

Bangladesh is one of the most crowded countries on earth, and that means there are a lot of arguments over land. According to Panos London, disputes over land are the biggest single cause of court cases in the country.